Assamese look forward to peaceful days

GUWAHATI - Recent developments relating to the surrender and arrest of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)’s, central committee members have the promise of peaceful days to Assam.

The only senior leader outside the net is ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah.

Most people in Assam want him to join the peace process as well. fter 12 years of his detention, ULFA vice-Chairman Pradip Gogoi was released on bail from Guwahati Central Jail.

His approach was positive and he told journalists outside prison that in principle the outfit was in favour of resolving the 30-year-old conflict through peaceful political dialogue.

And, in that regard he sought the cooperation of both the Central and State governments.

He also sought the cooperation of all sections of the society in Assam for carrying forward the process of political dialogue with the government.

“The Federal Government has created a favorable atmosphere and we will count on the public opinion,” said Pradeep Gogoi, ULFA Vice Chairman.

Six top ULFA leaders are currently in the Guwahati Central Jail - the outfit’s chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, Dy Commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, and the ULFA political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.

The special TADA Court in Guwahati granted bail to Daimary and Gogoi - a move seen as an attempt by the government to go soft on the jailed rebel leaders to bring them for peace talks.

However, Assam chief minister, who recently met the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi, clarified that ‘Sovereignty’ and ‘integration’ would never be the part of peace talks.

“He (Home Minister P Chidambaram) asked somebody, some officials, what are the topics of the talks, I said first let them submit their demands, except of course we made it very clear that there is no question of sovereignty. This is the basic and accordingly we will proceed,” said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The common sentiment in Assam is that ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua should come for talks with the Centre.

Political dialogue can only help restore peace in the region. As the state has already suffered huge lose so there should not be anymore time wasted and it is high time commander-in-chief should come for talks or people already in jail or the two leaders released must initiate peace process and it is important for the people of Assam,” Ranjan Baruah a local.

“Paresh Barua should come for talks because he is a senior leader. He should come for talks for a permanent solution and it can only happen and there will be peace talks,” said Susanka Kashyap, another local.

The current developments have given hope to people of Assam who are well aware of the fact that ‘Peace’ will ultimately bring prosperity to the state. (ANI)